See courses Grasp a unique opportunity to study with high-profile lecturers; extend your
professional network by taking part in multinational courses attended by
top policy officials & executives; access to all course materials, including
recordings of the lectures, through an interactive extranet site and benefit
from an ideal setting in the Capital of Europe & seat of NATO headquarters.
CERIS - ULB

Diplomatic School of Brussels
The Professional Step Forward Learn about CERIS CERIS - ULB

Diplomatic School of Brussels
Open Your Mind to a new world Reflection Read the blog CERIS - ULB

Diplomatic School of Brussels
Mundum intelligere - Futuram aedificare Apply to a course CERIS - ULB

Diplomatic School of Brussels

Upcoming Classes

18Oct

Geopolitical Outlook 2025

6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Dr. Pascal Boniface (Institut de relations internationales et stratégiques - IRIS)
19Oct

The Foreign Policy of China

10:00 am - 11:30 am
His Excellency Mr. FEI Shengchao (Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Kingdom of Belgium)
25Oct

Introduction to Geopolitics

6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Professor Tanguy Struye de Swielande (UCLouvain, Director of CECRI)
26Oct

Contemporary Geopolitics

9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Professor Tanguy Struye de Swielande (UCLouvain, Director of CECRI)
26Oct

Questioning Development Aid

2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Professor David Sogge (Transnational Institute - Amsterdam)
Explore CERIS Curriculum to form your Opinion
executive master intern politics
Executive Master in International Politics

We live in a globalized world where regions and states have grown more and more interdependent. Therefore, an in-depth study of international relations is becoming essential.

Learn more
tailormade intensive courses
Executive Master in Development Policy

In a constantly changing world, development has become one of the major issues of the 21st century. This is why we believe that a specialised course must be devoted to it.

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tailor made intensive courses
Trainings

Tailor-made Intensive Courses aim to provide a deeper understanding of current issues of today’s international relations. For policymakers, officials, academics, interested specialists, this is a must-attend course.

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Alumni Testimonials

  • “CERIS offered me an excellent academic and intellectual opportunity to improve myself and also enrich my professional skills. The courses offered me a wide ranging coverage of major international political and economic issues. I believe that diplomats will stand to gain from CERIS executive programs and degrees.”

    Assem Hanafi, Ambassador of Egypt to Nigeria, MAIP 2017
    Assem Hanafi
    Ambassador of Egypt to Nigeria
  • “CERIS provided the ideal environment to inspire a professional. There was a supportive work ethic, a demanding academic programme and interesting extracurricular activities.I strongly believe it is an excellent choice for anyone seeking to advance their professional or academic career.“

    Laurentiu Rebega, Member of the European Parliament
    Laurentiu Rebega
    Member of the European Parliament
  • “I followed the lectures on International Politics at the CERIS-ULB Diplomatic School during the academic year 2017-2018. They gave me access to broad information on current political situations worldwide, including their history and their impacts. Sometimes given in a provocative spirit, these lectures were a great opportunity to see different sides and approaches to politics and thus helped me enlarge my horizon. I enjoyed in particular the lectures on Geopolitics and on the Middle East. I would like to thank the Executive Boa”

    Sanja Mijic
    Sanja Mijic
    European Parliament
  • “The theory and practice mix of the programs offered by CERIS makes it a unique institution of high learning. CERIS offers life long learning skills that makes one versatile and motivated to continue learning by building upon the knowledge acquired while studying at CERIS. I now have enhanced analytical skills that are needed in the multilateral environment where a sound appreciation of the ever changing global political dynamics is a must negotiators courtesy of the CERIS Executive Masters in International Politics.”

    Poem Mudyawabikwa
    Poem Mudyawabikwa
    Diplomat with Zimbabwe Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva
  • ‘Veni Vidi Vici’ – ’ I came, I saw ,I conquered’. CERIS-ULB was a unique and unforgettable experience as I got lot of valuable lessons and insights from my studies in Masters in International Politics, Masters in Development Policy as well as a Teaching Assistant in the same institution . I wouldnt have been able to achieve my goals without passing through the school. It offered me a good atmosphere to learn international development politics, where lecturers provide all the support one is looking for. The uniqueness of the school is that it provides opportunity to work with people from different diverse professional, academic and cultural backgrounds”

    Joseph_Sarfo
    Joseph Kwame Sarfo-Adu
    Office of the President, Republic of Ghana
  • CERIS program attracted me for two reasons: it covered widespan themes such as international security, arms control, global warming or human rights, and it gave an in-depth perspective on every region in the globe, not focusing exclusively on the West or China. During a whole year I had classes on these subjects given by lecturers from some of the best universities in Europe and the US, bringing different schools of thought to an already open and diversified audience. It is indeed a fascinating International Politics degree, perfectly suited in Brussels, the Capital of Europe.

    Antonio-NOBRE-_EU-120_01
    António Nobre
    Eco Management and Audit Scheme - EMAS Coordinator, European Commission
  • CERIS is a very remarkable Institution and I have particularly enjoyed the quality, the essence of education, the high profile of teachers and the professionalism of the management team. The insight about global economy and politics to forge knowledge and understanding the 21st century made a big impression to me. I take the opportunity to thank the management team for their impressive and hard work they had accomplished to make CERIS what it is today. I will always recommend CERIS to family, friends and colleagues.”

    Tharcisse Gatarama
    Legal and Strategic Advisor to the Ministry of Justice- EUCAP Sahel Niger
  • “I studied at CERIS from October 2016 to October 2017. The Master is organised in 6 topic modules and 6 geographic modules which together provide a full overview of international relations theory but also a helicopter view of current global events. Moreover, the guided research and Thesis writing module allows developing valuable expert knowledge in a chosen area of international relations.”

    Georges Ortmann
    Investment Officer at Virunga Development, DRC
  • “I find CERIS’ teaching methods to be very mature and comprehensive. Teachers always suggest to approach the problem from different angles and invite to draw own conclusions rather than push to accept the mainstream vision. The range of topics in the module «International Politics» touched upon the majority of issues and geographical regions.“

    Vera Lipkovskaya, Senior Expert, Representative Office of Gazprom in Brussels
    Vera Lipkovskaya Senior Expert
    Representative Office of Gazprom in Brussels

Why Choosing CERIS?

  • Study with renowned professors from leading Universities
  • Extend your Professional network
  • Taking part in International courses attended by top Officials and Executives
  • Access to all course materials through an interactive extranet Site
  • Taking part Video conferencing with high profile lecturers and Key Experts
  • Benefit from an ideal setting in the capital of Europe and seat of number of International Organisations
  • Obtain an International Certificate of 60 ECTS level 7 EQF (European Qualification Framework)

 

 

Distance Learning

CERIS Courses may be taken as part of a distance learning programme. [e-Learning]

Video Live Conference : all CERIS courses are accessible by videoconference via the Zoom system which allows the participant to attend the course and interact live with the teacher. Candidates work with a supervisor who provides them with the teaching framework and necessary academic guidance. They keep in regular contact by e-mail & computer-assisted video conferences.

Streaming Platform : using a personal User Name & password, participants have access to the courses trough an interactive extranet and intranet Web Site. Participants have the possibility of downloading the Outlines & handouts prepared by the lecturers, the Proceedings or course synopses and Background readings or indeed any other printed document. Access to audio/video recordings also forms part of the course materials. They have also access to media library with outstanding seminars, conferences, e-documents and useful links.

Outstanding theses

Professor Testimonials

Quality of CERIS education owes much to the team of Faculty and guest lecturers. Over the years, CERIS has developed an extensive network from top international civil servants, prominent scholars drawn from leading academic and research institutions, and key international experts. For this reason, CERIS is proud to provide inputs from a first-rate academic team that few universities would be in a position to offer. Every year, classes are run by eighty world experts and leaders.

CERIS-ULB Diplomatic School of Brussels
Open Your Mind to a New World Reflection

“It has been a great pleasure to teach at CERIS on the Executive Masters in International Politics. The course is well designed, well organised, and well supported. The students are excellent. They bring a wide range of knowledge, experience, and perspective to the discussion.”

Professor Richard Caplan
University of Oxford, Linacre College

“CERIS offers teachings of exceptional quality in two ways, the themes taught and the quality of the lecturers. The themes are linked to prevailing international concerns, the most important and those which will have the most impact on the future of nations and peoples. The lecturers represent a panel of renowned and particularly well informed experts. The outcome not only contributes to enriching everyone’s knowledge but also to offering a real intellectual construction so as to enable everyone to move forward effectively.”

Professor Guy Olivier Faure
Paris V Descartes, Sorbonne University

“CERIS is an exceptional place of excellence and thought-provoking. Over the years, I have given several lectures at CERIS. I have been highly impressed by the intellectual caliber and diversity of the participants and diplomats there. CERIS is a vibrant and dynamic learning environment which combines diplomatic practice and concepts and ideas. My lectures at CERIS often provoked critical questions and debates from which I have learned a great deal. CERIS is one for the few international diplomatic schools that provides not only professional skills but also intellectual and theoretical knowledge. It is unique and exceptional.”

Professor Fawaz A. Gerges
London School of Economics & Political Science - LSE

Testimonials from Scholarship Recipients

Each year, we welcome participants from all over the world, from 5 continents and more than 40 countries. The CERIS-ULB Diplomatic School in Brussels offers scholarships thanks to the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region in Belgium, to help develop expertise to support the development of partner countries. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Ministry of the Brussels-Capital Region in charge of European and International Relations for its unfailing support, thanks to which this initiative has become a reality.

Brussels-Capital Region
A region that opens minds to new perspectives on the world.

“I am grateful to have had the opportunity to attend the Ceris program this year thanks to the scholarship I was granted from the Region de Bruxelles. This scholarship gave me the chance to deepen and broaden my knowledge in International Relations. I truly enjoyed the diversity and depths of participants which allowed for great interaction and sharing of experiences. I came out of it better equipped with tools to operate in a world that is facing paradigmatic changes. I am thankful to have had the unique opportunity to attend classes by brilliant lecturers and I once again would like to thank Ceris for the wonderful experience.”

Mariama Naomi Gaye
PhD Candidate at University of International Business and Economics, Graduate from Shanghai Jiao Tong University

“I am very greatful to the Région de Bruxelles-Capitale and CERIS for the one in a lifetime opportunity to gain so much knowledge and information from some of the finest minds in the world. Through the scholarship I was granted for the CERIS programme, I was able to get different detailed and interesting perspectives on diplomacy, trade, international relations, governance and policy.

 

As an advisor to prominent political figures in the DRC, this program was not only relevant for my work, it helped me tackle many of today’s issues with a different lense, which was very beneficial to me and to my work. I strongly encourage CERIS to continue to provide this unique and elite opportunity to Africans in general and congolese professionels in particular.”

Placide Tshibanda
Advisor to the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo

” Thanks to the “Brussels-Capital Region”, I had the privilege of attending the Executive MA in Governance & Development Policy program 2020-2021 provided by CERIS. It was a great personal experience, seen the quality courses taught by highly qualified teachers as well as the quality of the debates initiated by the other students. Attending this program gives me a better understanding of ‘how’, ´why’ and ´when’ different governance and development policies are applied on continents and regions; not only from a global point of view but also in detail with concrete examples.

 

I highly recommend this program to actors and potential actors of the aforementioned subject, governance and development, being from any country or region of the world because it allows you to better understand where (and why) countries/regions are in their stages of development and provide a solid baseline to start with when it comes to performing with regard to the development and governance of a country/region.”

Benjamin Sambu
Senior Delivery and Framework Manager EU Institutions